WOLUMLA
OVER a hundred people joined in the Wolumla Anzac Day march from the hall to the memorial led by the captain of Wolumla Public School, Jessica Clarke, and emcee John Fraser.
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They joined the 50 or more people waiting at the town's War Memorial.
Jessica, Tory Trezise and Chelsea Parks gave the prayer of thanksgiving, for the Queen and for the nation.
In his commemorative address, John Fraser said that although Australians and New Zealanders tore each other apart on the sporting fields, they bonded on a day like this to remember their common heritage at Gallipoli.
Australia lost 8000 men, New Zealand 2000, but it had to be remembered that the Turks lost 70 to 80,000.
Nine Wolumla men served at Gallipoli, Mr Fraser said.
CANDELO
THE spirit of those Candelo men who did not return from the war is embodied in the village's memorial, said the secretary of the Candelo RSL sub-branch, Warren Thompson.
"World War 1 had a profound effect on so very many and the day has come to acknowledge he futility of war while still honouring those who died and served," he said in his introductory speech at the Candelo ceremony.
At Candelo, the Bemboka Light Horse led the parade to the memorial, followed by a piper and drummer and a large contingent of ex-servicemen and women and current servicemen and women.
School children from Candelo Public, Bega High and Lumen Christi were next and the Candelo residents.
Crocheted poppy crosses made by Judy Winters enhanced the memorial on this very special Anzac Day.
Candelo schoolchildren Annabelle Campbell, Georgia Weller and Amelia Moffitt gave the prayers for thanksgiving, for the Queen and for the nation.
Phil Collins, president of the Candelo RSL sub-branch spoke on the conditions in the district during 1915.
There was a terrible drought in that year and with 114 men having gone to war, parents and daughters had to do the work on the farms and in factories.
The price of milk and cheese were controlled by the government and many of the dairy farmers couldn't manage and sold their herds to the butchers.
One butter factory closed down and then started up again freezing rabbits.
The only goods exported were wheat and wool and dairy farmers couldn't even send their butter to other states where the prices were higher.
There was lack of flour and the baker had to take his price up from four and half pence to five and a half pence - and as there was no paper he asked his customers to bring their own.
He also ran out of eggs so the school had an egg drive to help him out.
Candelo was unique in NSW in the way it looked after its soldiers, Mr Collins said.
Led by the Candelo Knitting Group, all soldiers did well with socks and balaclavas and when they left they were given a farewell at the Candelo Town Hall, given five pounds and a watch.
Throughout the war the Candelo Knitters raised money for the troops.
Mr Collins then gave short biographies of Candelo men who fought at Gallipoli.
There was Cpl Edwin Norton Blomfield who enlisted in Liverpool on March 17, 1915.
He was in Gallipoli helping with the evacuation in November, 1915.
He was killed in action in France on August 12, 1916 while running out a telephone line and was buried at Poziers British Cemetery.
Private Clarence (Clarrie) Ellis was a popular member of the Candelo football team.
Hospitalised, he wrote to his mother about his experiences in Gallipoli - "Blown out of trench - 75 shells, little over an hour. Lost all mates on one charge. Spent night alone."
He said Australians were the best fighters and the Ghurkas next.
He died from head wounds in France, April 22, 1917, and is buried at Beugny.
Major Gladstone Montague Hunt was a popular doctor, footballer and tennis player.
He served in Gallipoli and in France won the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry.
He was hit by a shell at Ypres and his body never recovered so his name in on the Menin Gate.
Cpl Clem Walter was a footballer and a cricketer.
He was killed in action at Gallipoli and is buried in the Parade Ground Cemetery.
Private Harry Weppler also fought in Gallipoli, but was killed in action in Belgium and as his body was not recovered - his name is also on the Menin Gate.
For the Candelo ceremony, the Cabbies (Candelo Adult Beginners' Band) played along with students and Jenny Collins led the singing.
Eileen Targett read the commemoration of the fallen.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mr Colins, thanked everyone for their support and invited them to view the memorabilia exhibition in the Town Hall and two-up sessions would be held in the town.
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